Articoli Taggati “Vatican”

Has anyone considered what would happen if in a few years Pope Francis (76) decided that he too wanted to hang up the pallium and retire? It would not be beyond the realms of possibility that Benedict (85) would still be alive. Would Pope Emeritus Francis join him in the monastery in the Vatican gardens, […]

On the day of the mass for the start of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome, to give it its official name, the sun smiled down on St. Peter’s square. Yesterday was grey and windy in Rome. Tomorrow will probably be grey and windy in Rome. But today the sun shone. It never […]

Yesterday evening the Italian Bishop’s Conference sent a message to Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan congratulating him on his election as pope. Someone had pushed the “send” button too soon. Instead it was Jorge Mario Bergoglio who stepped out onto the balcony to give his first urbi et orbi (to the City and the World) […]

We have a new pope and it has taken everyone by surprise. That we have the first Latin American pope was always on the cards; many observers predicted that the cardinals would choose a candidate from the most Catholic continent. But no one expected that candidate to be the Jesuit from Argentina Jorge Mario Bergoglio. At […]

...black, obviously, otherwise my headline would have been "XXX becomes pope". Just before 7.45 the chimney on the Sistine Chapel was used for the first time of this conclave. No one really expected white smoke today. The first day of the conclave is really spent taking care of the ceremonial stuff. Early this morning, the cardinals […]

The Sistine Chapel is ready, the chimney is up on the roof, cardinals and priests have received official notification of the conclave dress code, the last general congregation of cardinals took place this morning with 28 cardinals speaking, and this afternoon at 17:30 the 90 or so cleaners, drivers, doctors, nurses, confessors , waitresses technicians, […]

The lists of papabili are multiplying. Publishing these keeps journalists busy and helps to give the impression that they are in the know. As the main event draws closer it gets harder rather than easier. You can’t just rehash the same old names; so you start with the names no one can ignore, add one […]

The atmosphere at this lunchtime’s Vatican press briefing was a lot more relaxed than of late, now that we know that the conclave is starting. Fr Lombardi opened by saying that he was almost sorry that these regular meetings would soon be coming to an end. He then burst out laughing almost uncontrollably, suggesting that […]

Yes, we finally have a date. This afternoon’s Congregation of Cardinals decided that the conclave will begin on Tuesday 12 March. For the 25th time, the Sistine Chapel will witness the election of a new Pope. The cardinals will meet again in congregation tomorrow morning, but not in the afternoon. Many are expected to visit […]

Yes, we will finally have a date later today. The eighth General Congregation of Cardinals will decide when the conclave will begin and it will be announced some time after 7 p.m. During the congregation Cardinal Sodano, the Dean of Cardinals read out a section of Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio. Since all the cardinals are now […]